Guitar Man

In a role originally slated for Eric Roberts, John portrays real-life musician and youth advocate, Buzzy Martin. Buzzy’s story is a fascinating one: After years of chasing the elusive rock and roll dream, Buzzy found his purpose in life teaching music to at-risk youth. Then, a 12-week contract to teach music to inmates at San Quentin led to a 3 1/2-year mission of ‘salvation through music’ at the Q. Buzzy’s mantra of “Educate, Don’t Incarcerate” is a message that’s never been more relevant in today’s world of prisons for profit and wild inequities in how social justice is meted out on the streets.

Along with a cast of established and up and coming Bay Area talent, John also shares the screen with notables such as Mark Rhino Smith (Zootopia, Batman Begins), Charlie Musselwhite (Grammy-award winning blues musician), and Michael Sommers (Sorry to Bother You, Sense8. The film is currently on the festival circuit.